Apparatus for dispensing carbonated beverages



May 13, 1943 R. a. ELLISON APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING C ARBONATED BEVERAGES Y Filed May 25, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l .iz/ir v 6.. f

V INVENTOR. 17 P115562] 71 17' [0'50 ATTORNEYS Q May 18,-1943 R. H. ELLISON 2,319,308

APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING CARBONATED BEVERAGES.

Filed May 23, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet 2 o I '6 .g

13, jg F 14 14 l I 7 a6 16 J 7 J INVENTOR.

' ATTORNEYS May 18, 1943 I R. H. ELLISQN 2,319,308

APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING CARBONATED BEVERAGES Filed May 23, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 r 5 J Z I mvE TOR. 7315:??? 74 77/500 to supply a beverage to a Patented May 18, 1943 APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING CAR-BONATED BEVERAGES Russell H. Ellison,

Dearborn, Mich., assigno'r, by"

mesne assignments; to Violet K. Ellison, Dearborn, Mich.

Application May 23, 1940, Serial No. 336,735

7 Claims.

My invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for dispensing carbonated beverages. I

An object of this invention. is to provide a means of serving a carbonated beverage with a minimum loss of the gascontent of the beverage. A further object is to provide a system adapted to maintain-beverages under full pressure and adapted to momentarily remove all gas pressure from a limited amount of said beverage during the dispensing period.

A further object is to provide a means of serving a carbonated beverage with a minimum amount of foam in the serving container. A further object is to provide adevice which will permit control of the amount of'foam on beverages served by draught.

Another object is to provide a time-saving device which will eliminate the loss of time in skimming foam from a beverage served by draught. I

A further object is to provide a device adapted dispensing outlet by means of gravity only regardless of the pressure maintained in the supply container.

I A further object is to provide a device which will accomplish .the aforementioned objects and is operated by a single control handle.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent in the following description.

It is well known that carbonated beverages must be maintained under pressure to' retain the gas pressure therein.

However, heretofore on serving from a supply maintained under pressure,

this pressure has subjected the beverage to violent movement when dispensed. Such violent physical action causes foaming and loss of the gas content of the beverage, as is well known. In the present invention means are provided to permit a gentle dispensing of the beverage. The beverage is carried to the faucet by gravity alone and is not subject to the pressure on the keg or other container.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the device'with the control handle in off position and the supply container and pressure source shown.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a portion of the device. I r Figs. 3. 4 and 5 are diagrammatic views showing various positions of the valves and handle.

Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the control handle ready to open the faucet..

Fig. '7 shows the position of the control handle A after it has opened the faucet.

Fig. 8 isa vertical cross section of the faucet.

Referring to Fig. 1, the suitable container for a supply-of the beverage to be served. A source. of pressure for this container or keg is shown by drum 2. A dispensing faucet is shown at 3. Intermediate this supply container and faucet is a separate dispensing container 4 of a relatively smallcapacity, disposed at a higher elevation-than faucet 3. The usual vertical wall of the cabinet or bar is shown at 30. The beverage may be cooled by any suitable means.

Beverage may be fed from the supply container to the dispensing container by tubes 5 and 6. A valve 1 controls thisline of supply. Tubes 8 and 9 vent the dispensing container 4 to the atmosphere. A valve IO'controls this vent to the atmosphere. When valve III to the atmosphere is closed and valve 1 to the supply vcontaineris open, as in Figs. 1 and 3, the dispensing container 4 will be substantially filled with the beverage and be under pressure from source 2. This is the idle or off position of the device. The beverage is forcedby pressure from drum 2 to enter the dispensing container'until the pressure of compressed air above the liquid equals the pressure-in'drum 2. To serve some beverage, valve 1 is closed and valve l0 opened as in Fig. 5. Pressure drum 2 is now out off from the dispensing chamber and the dispensing chamber is vented to the atmosphere through valve I0. Dispensing faucet 3 may be opened and the beverage in container 4 will flow by gravity through tube I and out faucet 3.. Gentle emission of the beverage by gravity through faucet 3 will cause but a minimum amount of foam and loss of gas content of the beverage. Air may enter the dispensing container through tubes 9 and 8 while the beverage is being discharged through line H and faucet 3. Dispensing container 4 should be included in the cooling system and to this end valves I and [0 are preferably designed to operate under'cooling I water if desired.

It should be noted that this systempermits the beverage to be maintained under full pressure at. substantially all times.

The pressure is released only from a limited amount of the beverage and only for a short interval of time as an incidentof dispensing the beverage.- Therefore, the-beverage is not allowed to lose its charge from standing 'under low pressure. In addition. it should be noted that valve Ill is never open when valve 1 is open. This prevents beverage from creating foam as it enters the dispensingcontainer 4.

Means tocontrol the operation of the valves 1 numeral l designates a and I and faucet 3 to effect the desired result will now be described. As shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5,

. the valves 1 and I0 are vertically disposed adjacent each other. They are urged upward to their normally closed position by springs I2 and I3, respectively. In the form illustrated, these valves comprise a vertical rod l4 with a ball IS on the end thereof. A valve seat I6 is disposed above the ball. A rocker arm l1, suitably pivoted on the dispensing container or an attachment thereto, constitutes the means for opening these valves. This rocker arm is adapted to contact the tops of rods M and alternately urge the valves open. Spring l8 normally urges the rocker arm .to assume the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 wherein valve 1 to the supply container is open and valve In to the atmosphere isclosed. Suitable linkage such as links and 2| connects the free end of" rocker arm |1 tothe control handle 25. Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, it will be seen that counterclockwiserotation. of thecontrol handle will rotate the rocker arm H in counterclockwise direction, thereby closing valve 1 and opening valve M, as shown in Fig. 5. When control handle 25 is returned to off position, spring |8 returns rocker arm i1 to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Fig. 4 illustrates a form wherein valve 1 may be closedslightly before valve I0 is opened.

As previously explained, the filling of the dispensing container, closing valve 1 to the supply container, and venting the dispensing container to the atmosphere through valve 1 should all occur L before the faucet 3 is opened to permit a gravity flow of the beverage to the serving container. A construction adapted, to accomplish this result will now be described. A cross section of a common type of dis ensingfaucet 3 is she n in Fig. 8 wherein 'a popp t valve 36 is adapte to fit on valve seat 31v andcoil spring 38 urgesi the valve to closed position. A rotatable member 28 is provided with a laterally projecting finger 33 adapted'to raise valve 36 when member 28 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction as illustrated. Heretofore, however, control handle 25 has been, rigidly fastened to rotatable member '28. In the 'deviceidescribed herein, a pin 29 is provi ed on rotatable member 28 and a shoulder 3| is rovided in handle 25. This pin and shoulder are adapted to permit a delayed .rotation of member 28. Link 2| is provided with a roller 26 adapted. to engage a cam slot 21 provided-,3. in

handle 25. In the interval of time before the delayedrotation of valve member 28, the rotation of handle 25 will cause roller 26 and cam slot 21 to actuate the rocker arm l1 and valving arrangement. Thereby valve 1 is closed and valve I0 is opened before the faucet3 is opened. i An overcenter linkage arrangement, to be hereinafter described, will prevent rocker arm I1 from returningto its original position untilthe handle 25 is shut oil. This will therefore, maintain valve 1 closed and valve it open, while faucet 3 is open. Cam 21 and shoulder 3| are preferably so designed that when roller 26 passes'the sharp angle 32 in the cam slot and the tension on line 2| is released, then shoulder 3| engages pin 29 and actuates the faucet.

The arrangement of linkage is important. LinksZD and 2| furnish the means for transmitting force from handle 25 to rocker arm 112, 0

The combination ofan additional link 24 and a stop 34 provide an over-center position shown in Fig. 5 whereby spring I8 cannot alone return rocker arm H to its Fig. 1 position. The only way it may be returned is by returning handle 25 to *7 5 ,off position? Link 24 is shown as pivotally fastened to. links 20 and 2| and to a stationary extension of dispensing container 4.

In my preferred construction, handle 25 may rotate counterclockwise free of rotatable member 28 for substantially 45 before shoulder 3| engagespin 29 and actuates the faucet. At this time the position of cam 21 changes to free link 2| while handle 25 is operating the faucet by further counterclockwise rotation. This 45 movement permits the operation of the unit through theactiorr of cam 21 and link 2| before the beverage flows from the faucet.

The return of handle 25 to o position shown I in Figs. 1 and 3, closes faucet 3, returns roller 26 to the top of cam slot 21, and releases the overcenter linkage arrangement of link 24 and stop.

, A smallhandle 33;,may be attached to the,

valve 1 is open and valve l0 closed. Obviously,

then rotation of member 28 will open the faucet while valve 1 to the pressure source is open. This permits the beverage to be forced out of faucet 3 by the pressure from supply 2, as is the common practice today. This will cause a foaming beverage to be served. This optional use of my invention makes the amount of foam to be served within the control of the operator. 4

In the operation of my device, it should be noted that when it is'off or at rest, the dispensing container 4 is maintained substantially full of beverage under pressure from source 2. This occurs because spring I8 urges rocker arm H to maintain valve 1 open and permit valve I0 to close. To servesome beverage, handle 25 is rotated counterclockwise (Fig. 1) to open position (Fig. 5). By means of cam 21 and roller 26, this motion is transmitted as a pull on link 2|.- By means of the linkage described, a pull on lever 2| rotates rocker arm H and permits valve 1 to the pressure source to close and opens valve I0, venting container 4 to the atmosphere when handle 25" is in Fig. 6 position. Further rotation of handle 25 to the Figs. 5 and 7 position causes roller 26 to pass the angle in the cam slot and release the pull on link 2|. The over-center? linkage of link 24 prevents rocker arm H from returning to its Fig. 1 position. The vent on container- 4, therefore, remains open and the container 4 is sealed from the pressure source. 'Substantially at the time roller 26 releases the force on link 2|, shoulder 3| on the handle 25 picks up pin .29 and opens the faucet allowing the discharge of beverage. Handle 25 is manually returned to its initial position and faucet 3 thereby closed, roller 26 will move to the top of cam slot 21 and rocker arm l1: will open valve 1 and permit valve 10 to close. This procedure may now be repeated or handle 33 may be pulled'by the operator. When handle 33 is pulled the faucet is opened while valve 1 is open and valve l0 closed. Beverage is force, out of faucet 3 by pressure fromfsource 2 and a foaming beverage is served. The'operator therefore has a'choic of serving a foaming or not foaming beverage.

I claim:

1. A device for dispensing a gas charged beverage comprising a dispensing container, gas pressure means to supply beverage to said container, a valve adapted to stop said means, a vent from said container to the atmosphere, a valve adapted to substantially seal said vent, means normally to urge said first mentioned valve to open position, means normally to urge said second mentioned valve to closed position, a faucet operatively connected to said dispensing container, lever means adapted to close said first mentioned valve and open said second mentioned valve, ahandle adapted to operate said faucet and cam means on said handle adapted to operate said lever means.

2. A device for cfispensing carbonated beverages comprising a supply source maintained under pressure, means for momentarily removing all gas pressure from a limited amount of said beverage, a faucet adapted to permit dispensing of said beverage by gravity, a handle on said faucet adapted to control said means and operate said faucet and an auxiliary handle adapted to operate said faucet without actuating said means.

3. A device for dispensing a gas charged beverage comprising a dispensing container, gas pressure means to supply beverage to said container, 'avalve adapted ,to interrupt said means,

a vent from said container to the atmosphere, a valve adapted to close said vent, said valve being disposed substantially adjacent to said first mentioned valve, a lever pivotally mounted between said valves and adapted to alternately open them, spring means on said valves normally urging them closed, spring means on said lever normally'urging it to a position whereby the said first merflioned valve is open and the second mentioned valve closed, a faucet, a handle on said faucet said handle being provided with a cam slot, a plurality of links connecting said faucet-and said lever, one of said links being provided with a portion adapted to engage: the said cam slot and "the said cam slot and links bein adapted to transmit force from the rotationof the said handle to pivot the said lever to a position whereby the first mentioned valve is closed and the second mentioned valve is open, an overcenter link pivoted on one end to said links and pivotally mounted at its other end on a stationary object, said over centerllink being adapted to maintain the said lever in its latter position until the said handle is returned to initial position, and means to open said faucet while said lever is maintained in its said latter position.

4. A device'for dispensing carbonated beverages comprising a supply source maintainedu'nder pressure, a first means for momentarily removing gas pressure from a limited amount of said, beverage, a faucet, a handle pivoted on said faucet, said handle being provided with a cam slot, linkage retained in saidcam slot and operinitial position, said handle being adapted to ac tuate said faucet during the latter part of its movement when the linkage is not operatively' connected to the handle. v

5. A device for dispensing carbonated beverages comprising a supply source maintained under pressure, -a first means for momentarily-removing all ga pressure from a limited amount of said beverage, a valve body to dispense said beverage by gravity, a valve member in said valve body, a handle pivotally mounted on said valve body, a lost motion connection between said handle and said valve member whereby the valve member is only actuated to open position after considerable motion of the handle, a second means operatively, connected to said. handle and adapted to utilize the lost motion of said handle to actuate said first means, and an auxiliary handle adapted to operate said valve member without actuating said first mentioned means.

' 6. A'device for dispensing a gas charged beverage comprising. a dispensing container, gas

pressure means to supply beverage to saidcondispensing container, a

atively connected to said first means, said cam slot having a first portion substantially radial of said handle and adapted to actuate said linkage during initial movement of said handle and a second portion approximati g an are having the pivotal mounting of the ban 1e as a center to release the linkage from operative connection with the handle upon further movement of the handie, a second means to retain said first means in operative position, until the handle is returned to tainer, a valve adapted to interrupt said means, a vent from said container to the atmosphere,,a valve adapted to close said vent, means normally to urge said second mentioned valve. .to closed position, a faucet operatively connected to said handle on said faucet, said handle being provided with a cam slot, lever means adapted normally to close said first 'mentioned valve and open said second mentioned valve, said\ lever means being ,provided with a portion adapted to engage said cam slot and the said cam slot and lever means being adapted to transmit force from the rotation of the said a handle to close said first mentioned valve and open said second mentioned valve, an over-center linkconnected on one end to said lever means and .fpivotally mounted at its other end on a stationary object, said over-center link being adapted to maintain the said valves in their latter, position until the handle is returned to initiahposition, and means to open said faucet while {said i valves are maintained in their latter position;

'7. A device for dispensing carbonated bever: ages comprising a dispensing container, gas pressure means to supply beverage to said container,

a valve adapted'to stop said means, a vent from said container to the atmosphere, a valve adapted. to substantially seal said vent, ,said valves being positioned adjacent each other, spring means in said valves to urge said valves to closed position, lever means fulcrumed between said valves and adapted to alternately actuate said valves to open position, spring means adapted to hold saidlever normally in position to maintain saidfirst mentioned valve in open position, a faucet operatively connected to said dispensing con- I tainer; a handle on said faucet, means connecting said handle and said lever, means to utilize the rotation of said handle to pivot said lever about its fulcrum and permit said first mentioned valve'to close and to open said second mentioned valve prior to the operation of said faucet.

RUSSELL H. ELLISON. 

